Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Detroit Walk City

A cocktail composed of downed power lines and high winds
is to blame for 24 separate blazes in Detroit, Michigan which has ignited 2 dozen homes
and knocked out power to an additional 113,000 residents.
The Fire Chief says high winds knocked down dead tree limbs which in turn tore down wires.

I blame a lack of city maintenance services due to Detroit's staggering economy
-which saw the exodus of 109,000 people in 2008

-from 2001-2009 465,000 people had departed from Michigan
the combined populations of Grand Rapids, Warren, & Sterling Heights
the state's 2nd, 3rd, & 4th largest cities

-those who fled in 2007 took more than $1.2 billion more in paychecks than those moving in
on average earning a 20% higher income then the new tenants

-39% had at least a 4 year college degree

-13% of Michigan is over 65, accounting for only 2.5% of those who left
which means because so many young people left the future growth of the state is in peril
as is Medicaid, more people receiving the funds rather then generating the benefits

-36,000 more households left the state then moved in,
leaving 36,000 empty houses & apartments

-40 of Detroit's 139 square miles are vacant due to foreclosures
an area the size of San Francisco

-in Wayne County alone, October of 2009 saw the delinquent auction of 9,000 properties
mostly located in Detroit, a rise from 2,000 in 2007
by 2008 17.3% of homes had entered foreclosure
the postal service says as of June 2009 17% of Detroit's addresses appear vacant

-the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan which was slightly used & cost $55.7 million to build,
sold for $583,000 (the price of a home)

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